by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 4, 2021
New Jersey dressage competitors made quite an impact at the U.S. Equestrian Federation national championships last summer, and they proved over the weekend during ShowPlus Dressage at Devon that was no fluke.
Even though multiple national champion Alice Tarjan of Oldwick wasn’t riding in FEI classes at Devon, since her top horse just came home from the Aachen, Germany, show, the Garden State’s dressage strength was evident at the Heritage competition on Philadelphia’s Main Line. (Alice’s Ice Princess did win the Materiale Three-Year-Old Fillies and the USDFBCS Filly Final during the breed show.)
The busiest Jerseyan during D at D was trainer Lauren Chumley, who rode in 14 classes. She brought nine horses from her Pittstown stable, and handled eight of them, while her groom, Jessie Hayes, rode the other one. Lauren and Jessie split the chores involved with the care and grooming of the horse at the showgrounds.The workload doesn’t faze Lauren.
These are only some of the ribbons Lauren had on display by her stalls at Devon. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I have more energy than anyone I know,” stated the 37-year-old, who is also an eventer and competed in the American Eventing Championships during the summer.
At Devon, she had to get up at 4:30 a.m. in order to fit everything in. The array of ribbons by her stalls showed how successful she was, with big wins in the breeding section of the show, and nice prizes in the performance section.
“I love Devon. It’s my favorite show,” said Lauren, who has been coming to the iconic location for 14 years. Discussing some of the horses she brought, Lauren said, “They’re a little green but I thought they were ready to try this, dip their toe into the bigtime. I think it’s a really good place to take young horses under saddle.
“It’s a lot of atmosphere, but they have to get used to that if they’re going to go on to FEI and do big things. I can’t hide in my backyard.This is a destination. This is just the place to be, to show here and do well with the crowds and vendors…Devon’s got a magic to it.”
Lauren and Kyro. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lauren just returned from her first trip to Aachen, where she groomed for Alice.
“That was amazing, but I’m still so excited about Devon. It’s a completely different kind of show.”
Lauren was thrilled about getting her first ribbon in a CDI, when Santa Barbara Dash took fourth in the Prix St. Georges.
“That’s a big deal to me,” she said
She won the Three-Year-Old Geldings Under Saddle with Notorious H20, bred by Kendra Hansis’ Running Water Warmbloods in Stockton (another Running Water horse, Fortunato H2O, won the Grand Championship and USDFBCS Five-Year-Old Materiale Championship for owner Lehua Custer).
Lauren also took the Materiale Four-Year-Old Test for stallions and geldings with Masterful Dream, who was the USDFBCS Four-Year Old Materiale Champion and won the USEF Four-Year-Old Test; the Materiale Five-Year-Old Mares with Leeloo Dallas and was second in Fourth Level Test 2 with Kyro, among other notable placings.
Lauren’s “life goal” is to compete at Devon in both the three-year-old class on the Tuesday and the Grand Prix under the lights on Saturday night.
“I think that would be so cool. You go to Europe, and you see the German A-team also showing in the stallion shows and the young horse shows,” she explained.
“That’s not how it works here. Europe has this formula riding three, four and five year olds and doing the Grand Prix at Aachen. I think it’s really cool to be a horseman and trainer, not just a rider of Grand Prix (horses) that somebody else trained. That’s what I’m trying to do, but I’ve got a long way to go.”
Other Jerseyans stood out in performance classes. Cesar Parra of Whitehouse Station won a very competitive 3-star Intermediate 1 class with a total of 70.981 percent on Belle Ami, by Bellissimo M. Marks over 70 percent were not freely given at this show, and two of the three judges put him at more than 71 percent for his efforts with the 12-year-old Westfalen mare owned by Brooke Centrella. He then went on to win the I-1 freestyle with 73.575 percent as the show came to an end..
He’s number one: Cesar Parra and Belle Ami. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Cesar worked with the mare when she was five, six and seven before Brooke took over. Then she passed the horse back to him this year. He qualified for Devon a few weeks ago at the Horse Park of New Jersey and noted proudly that Saturday’s class was only the third time he had ridden Belle Ami in a CDI.
“This is a good one,” he said, adding, “When she’s ready, I’m going to move her up.”
But he doesn’t want to rush, noting “at the very end for me, I’d rather have a wonderful sound Prix St. Georges (horse) than a nice Grand Prix lame. I can truly say it’s about the journey. At one point I think I was too much into the score. I care about scores, who doesn’t care, but it’s secondary to my horse is happy.”
He also won the FEI Young Horse Six-Year Old Finals with Fanta, scoring an 83.
Second place in both the 3-star I-1 and its freestyle went to Kim Herslow of Stockton with the Lusitano Elvis HI. She was marked in the first class on 68.921 percent for the horse she owns with Aileen Cascio.
Kim Herslow rocking with Elvis HI. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
At the USEF championships she learned that “definitely less warm-up is better. That’s huge. That’s the key to him.”
Replaying the first class, she said, “I wish I didn’t have the bobbles but I was trying to go for a little more expression, so you have that risk. In the freestyle, she earned 72.725 percent for her ride accompanied by–what else?–the music of Elvis Presley.
That was to be Elvis HI’s last start at Small Tour. Now she’s aiming him for Grand Prix.
Other New Jerseyans in the ribbons include Katryna Evans, who works for Cesar and won both FEI Young Horse Finals for Five-Year Olds with Mollegardens Fashion.
Bridget Hay of Ringoes was second and third with Shanahan in the Six-Year-Old Finals. She also was second in the Grand Prix Freestyle qualifier with Faolan, who was fourth in the freestyle itself. Third in the freestyle went to Shannon Stevens of Annandale, a CDI newcomer on Ferrari. Allison Nemeth of Flemington was a winner aboard Tiko in the FEI Young Riders category.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 3, 2021
The grandstands were packed with enthusiastic spectators cheering each ride in the featured Saturday night classes of ShowPlus Dressage at Devon, and the competitors rose to the occasion for their expectant audience.
The group that had ridden in the qualifiers for the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle the previous evening really stepped it up to put on memorable performances at the venerable showgrounds, where everyone felt the excitement of being back a year after the pandemic had cancelled the 46-year-old show on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
Michael Bragdell, who repeated his victory in the freestyle Short Grand Prix qualifier with Qredit Hilltop, savored the stallion’s recognition of the appreciative fans.
Michael Bragdell waves to the crowd. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He’s really good with the electricity,” said Michael, the head trainer at Hilltop Farm in Maryland. He couldn’t stop smiling as he talked about the Oldenburg, who was grand champion at Devon in the performance division as a yearling 12 years ago. The memory brought tears to his eyes.
“From the day he came to the barn as a weanling, I felt like he was really special. He was so well-behaved.”
In the midst of a sea of European imports, Qredit who was bred by Judy Yancey, stands out for being born in the USA. (In case you’re wondering, the odd spelling of his name pays tribute to the breeding stallion’s sire, Quaterback),
“I loved how he felt in the ring and how electric he felt in the ring, in a good way,” Michael observed about his eager mount.
“It’s always fun when you do the freestyle and enjoy the music, we have so much history here, there’s no other place like it.”
A native of Sweden who has been in the U.S. for decades, Michael started as “purely a jumper rider” saying, “I never thought I’d do what I did tonight. To be here and wear the blue ribbon, it’s very special; especially on him.
Qredit Hilltop performs his one-tempis. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Michael earned a personal best of 72.995 percent from the five judges. His test in the World Cup Finals qualifier was heavy with marks of 7 and 7.5 for the various movements, but he got a bevy of 8s for his entrance, choreography and interpretation of the music from Blurred Lines and Coldplay.
The “dit, dit, dit” on his soundtrack reflected the rhythm of his horse’s piaffe and passage, and the music swelled appropriately for his powerful one-tempis along the diagonal as the crowd went wild.
Susanne Hamilton, who came all the way from Maine, moved up from fourth in the qualifier to second last night with 71.075 percent on Leseth, earning 8’s and a few 8-pluses for her bouncy music–“Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and its interpretation, degree of difficulty/calculated risks and choreography. She knew she had nailed it with her 12-year-old Hanoverian, flinging up her arms in triumph after her final salute, then pointing down to her horse as she gave him credit.
Susanne Hamilton gave credit to her horse for his “awesome” freestyle performance. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“My horse is very young at the grand prix right now,” said Susanne.
“He had a little bit of trouble with the stadium the first few days he was in here,” she noted, but Puttin’ on the Ritz is his inspiration.
“He loves his music,” explained Susanne, who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1984.
“The first time I played his music to him, he said, `This is it.’ I said, `Okay, we’ll go with that.’ And so today he let me ride him. Which was awesome.”
Third place on 70.990 was Shannon Stevens with the aptly named Ferrari. Shannon, who is married to trainer Marcus Orlob, works out of their stable in Annandale, N.J. Ferrari came in as a sales horse, but she took to the gelding and kept him.
It was Shannon’s first CDI with her “heart horse,” noting both she and Ferrari are green.
“We have a big operation at home,” said Shannon, noting there are 33 horses in training.
“Riding a horse like this kind of keeps that spark.”
There were only six starters in the freestyle, although it made for an evening that was just long enough, coupled with the preceding Grand Prix Special and a vaulting exhibition.
The show was lacking its usual contingent of Canadians due to difficulties crossing the border because of Covid regulations, and the burden of additional expenses involved. As a dual American/Canadian citizen, however, Special winner Diane Creech had no problems.
Her 18-year-old Chrevis Christo, a Danish warmblood she owns with Louise Leatherdale, received a score of 68.761 percent in the qualifier, then moved up to 69.659 percent, over second-place finisher María Alejandra Aponte Gonzalez of Colombia on Duke de Niro (66.745). There were four in that class.
Diane Creech and Chrevis Christo. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Between Diane and her daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terrauds, they gathered six blue ribbons.
“It was a perfect weekend for us,” Diane said.
She called Christo “a very young senior,” who got a little wild when he returned to the ring for the presentation. Maria, who came into the arena without her horse, immediately took hold of his reins and he settled down.
“He felt like a 12-year-old,” said Diane.
“The atmosphere—he rises to it.” He is so trained, she noted with a smile, that in the qualifier “I was preparing for the pirouette and all of a sudden, I was in the middle of the pirouette, because he knew what we were doing.”
Diane spoke for all the riders when she said, “We are so grateful to the organization of Devon despite all the challenges and everything that’s going on in this crazy world to still be able to make this go and come together in our community is even more special.”
There was a tribute in the arena to retiring steward and technical delegate Elisabeth Williams, as the Dressage at Devon crew, friends and admirers crowded around to wish her well.
Elisabeth Williams is honored on her retirement by the Dressage at Devon group. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Throughout her career,” observed U.S Dressage Federation President Lisa Goretta, “Elisabeth has brought a level of professionalism and vision for both dressage in the U.S. and our participation on the international front that is not duplicated by anyone else in the country. She’s been to multiple Olympics, World Cups, World Games, Pan Am Games, CDIs in this country and abroad. No one will be able to duplicate her experience.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 23, 2021
It’s tack sale time again. Two organizations that offer therapeutic riding are having fundraisers this fall, so why not donate your used gear for the horse, rider or the barn?
Riding with HEART (Hunterdon Equine-Assisted Recreation and Therapy) in Pittstown has its sale at 639 Route 513 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 30 and from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 31, when most items will be half-price.
You can donate from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and from noon-3 p.m. Saturdays. Before you make the trip to donate, call 908-735-5912 to let them know you’re coming. Pick-ups are available for big donations within a one-hour drive of the facility. To arrange that, email tacksale@ridingwithheart.org. All donations are tax deductible.
On Sunday, Nov. 7, Mane Stream at 83 Old Turnpike Road in Oldwick will hold its sale from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. In addition to new or used bridles, saddles, blankets and tack boxes, as well as outgrown boots, breeches, jackets, horse-related models and knick-knacks will be accepted. All donations may be dropped off or donors may call to schedule a pick-up. For more information, contact Jen at 908-439-9636 or jen@manestreamnj.org.
Mane Stream’s mission to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical, developmental, emotional, and medical challenges through a diverse program of equine assisted activities, therapy services, and educational initiatives.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 23, 2021
MARS EQUESTRIAN™ has stepped up to serve as presenting sponsor of the 2022 Badminton Horse Trials, the British event that is making a comeback May 4-8 after two pandemic-related cancellations in 2020 and 2021.
“I am delighted that MARS EQUESTRIAN will be a presenting sponsor at Badminton 2022 and we are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back next year.” commented the Duke of Beaufort, at whose estate the event is staged.
“Through this partnership, we hope to honor the equestrian legacy of MARS and engage spectators with our iconic brands as we work to achieve our vision of a better world for horses, pets, and their owners,” said William Clements, vice president of global sponsorships and sports marketing for Mars Inc. Mars Wrigley U.S. has its headquarters in Hackettstown and Newark, N.J.
He described it as “a family-owned business that has been creating products and services that people, and their four-legged family members, love for over 100 years. Horses are deeply rooted in Mars’ history, dating back to the 1930s.”
Jacqueline Mars, a member of the family, is well-known as a successful owner of event horses and supporter of eventing on a personal basis. The Virginia resident is an honorary life trustee of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation.
Discussing the Badminton initiative, Clements said, “Through this partnership, we hope to honor the equestrian legacy of MARS and engage spectators with our iconic brands as we work to achieve our vision of a better world for horses, pets, and their owners. ”
Badminton Event Director Jane Tuckwell added, “MARS EQUESTRIAN Sponsorship increased commitment to Badminton is fantastic news for everyone involved. It’s very much all systems go and we are busy preparing to invite the exhibitors next month and will be opening the box office in January. We are all looking forward to a bumper Badminton 2022.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 22, 2021
The Alexandria Township barn tour will be held Oct. 3 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.This fundraiser benefits the Alexandria Equestrian Association, and includes old and new barns, both dairy and equine. For tickets, click on this link
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 20, 2021
Services were held last weekend for Frank Gibbs of Allamuchy, a retired farmer and pillar of his community, who had served as joint master of the Spring Valley Hounds.
Mr. Gibbs, 82, is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joan (Henry), whom he met when they were members of their 4-H horse club.
After studying animal husbandry at Cornell University, Mr. Gibbs co-owned and operated Gibbs Farms with his brother, the late James Gibbs, and subsequently with his sons in operating Gibbs Quest. As the third generation to run the family farm, Mr. Gibbs was a lifelong member of his community, located in the heart of Allamuchy’s valley.
Frank Gibbs with the Spring Valley Hounds. (Spring Valley photo by Charles Frase)
He was an active participant in community and civic life, serving as vice president of the Allamuchy Township Board of Education, chairman of the Allamuchy Township Planning Board, founding member of the Allamuchy-Green Rescue Squad, a member of the Allamuchy Historical Society, a founding member of the Friends of Rutherfurd Hall and member of its Key Communicators Committee and Wednesday volunteer group. He was also a Sunday School teacher and Trustee of Tranquility United Methodist Church, a member of Panther Valley Ecumenical Church and its finance committee, chairman of the Warren County Holstein Association, president of the New Jersey Holstein Association, president of NEDCO (Northeast Dairy Cooperative), a member of the New Jersey Farm Bureau, a member of the Warren County Agriculture Development Board (New Jersey Farmland Preservation), a member of the Ridge & Valley Conservancy, and a volunteer with Global Volunteer.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Gibbs is survived by his sons, Brant, and his wife, Cristiana Cooke-Gibbs and Keith and his wife Maryann Gibbs; his daughter, Jama, and her husband David Toung, eight grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. In addition, he is survived by a brother, Clifford W. Gibbs and his wife, Ruth Gibbs, as well as sisters-in-law Barbara Trought, Jane Gibbs, and Mavis Gibbs.He was pre-deceased by brothers James C. and Robert G. Gibbs; brother-in-law George Trought, and nephew Jack Gibbs.
Mr. Gibbs enjoyed adventure travel, preferably on horseback with family and friends. He rode western and English and was equally at home on a pack trip in the Cascade Mountains of Washington, rounding up cattle and horses, leading a trail ride up Allamuchy Mountain and hunting the hounds in the hills and valleys of Morris, Warren, and Sussex Counties.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in his memory to Rutherfurd Hall, 1686 Route 517, PO Box 453, Allamuchy, NJ 07820
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 20, 2021
“Awesome!” “Excellent!” “Beautiful!” So much fun!” “A blast!”
Those comments and similar remarks were expressed by happy riders crossing the finish line at the Tewksbury Trail Association’s Trail Pace on a sparkling, almost-autumn Sunday at Christie Hoffman Farm Park.
Mike Knowles leads his group across the finish line. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
It was a treat to see riders out simply enjoying their horses, the scenery and like-minded equestrians. Too often, we tend to think of equestrian activities in terms of serious competitions at shows or events, where there is no time to take a deep breath, relax and take in another side of riding that focuses on the horse and the surroundings, rather than the ribbons.
“Wonderful, great people, beautiful scenery,” said Karen Taylor-Broughton, a former Tewksbury resident who now lives in Pittstown.
“I miss Tewksbury, it’s a treasure. I’ll never move too far,” she added after wrapping up her ride.
It’s true that the township’s landscape is among the most scenic in New Jersey, and the terrain was at its best as the competition drew a field of 151 trying to match the optimum time of 1:21.42 in the trail division, set by experienced endurance rider Melissa Lenter of Boonton.
In the pleasure section, the mark was a more leisurely speed of 2:05.29 set by TTA board member Margaret Korgul and her husband, John Esposito.
Bethany Selage and Jenna Kremp schooled their horses in the water during the pace. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Janelle Parker of Atlantic Highlands and her 15-year-old daughter, Emma (making her pace debut), won a section of the trail pace on Furman and K-Man, horses borrowed from her best friend from college, Elissa Allen of Evenstride Farm in Califon.
Janelle Parker and her daughter, Emma, who was making her pace debut. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We had a blast. It was a beautiful day, it was fabulous, and all the staff was so nice and so helpful,” said Janelle, referring to the fleet of enthusiastic volunteers who made the experience possible for those participating..
The association’s mission statement explains it is “dedicated to preserving green space, open land, and the natural beauty of Tewksbury Township and the surrounding areas of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The TTA is committed to cultivating and maintaining agriculturally-sensitive bridle paths for horseback riding and community enjoyment.”
What could be a better goal?
Stephen Hagan and Louisa Sargent kept track of the starters. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
TTA President Louisa Sargent said the pace, the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, attracted generous sponsors. In 2020, the Covid situation meant the ride was limited to association members only; the organizers didn’t feel comfortable dealing with a big crowd at that time.
But for 2021, with isolation and lockdowns in the rearview mirror, riders were thrilled about the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors among fellow equestrian enthusiasts.
“People were really excited,” Louisa recalled about the reaction when it was announced this summer that the pace would be back.
And they also had a chance of winning a generous array of prizes, everything from saddlepads to hats, a vest, backpacks and a horse toy.
Standing proudly by the prizes offered at the pace were Gia-Raquello Esposito, Margaret Esposito, Roxanne Soroko and Joy Custer. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
A variety of breeds were competing, and a few western saddles were spotted in the mix. Although many riders wore breeches and boots, the dress code was casual, although of course, proper helmets were required.
“It was great,” said Mike Knowles of Neshanic Station, who was riding his quarter horse mare western. He comes to the pace every year.
This was the first trail pace for Annette Montgomery and her friend Sandra Foster of Pittstown. Annette summed up the experience as “a lovely time” riding Helga Wirth’s Icelandic horses, Blakkur and Muggur.
Sandra Foster and Annette Montgomery on the Icelandic Horses. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
While there were a number of first-timers, many familiar faces were seen among the entries.
Alexis Madiara and her husband, Derek Chimel, of Pittstown are regulars at paces.
“This is what we do,” she explained.
“We look forward to hunter pace season every year. Tewksbury does such a nice job with the prizes.”
After the couple won fourth place in the trail category, they were off to camp out with their horses for the night. So cool!
Trail Pace winners: Ideal Time: 1 hour, 21 minutes, 42 seconds.
Juniors
1,Jordan Jonach, Jen Stevenson
2, Bronwyn Carr, Caitlin Carr
3, Camryn Downey, Saffron Bessler
4, Haley Ronaghan, Sofia DeCastro, Kennedy Davidson
5, Leeci Rowsell, Olivia Hicok, Elise Tansey
6, Lorna Phillips, Autumn Phillips
Sixth-place Lorna Phillips, a Dubliner living in Chester, came prepared with a little backpack stocked with water and carrots. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Alexis Madiara and her husband, Derek Chimel, were fourth in the adult trail pace division with Sonoma and Calypso. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Adults:
1, Maryann Gruda, Al Gillen
2, Larry Riley
3, Karen Taylor, Amy Snyder
4, Alexis Madiara, Derek Chimel
5, Olivia Lauezzari, Diane Schneider, Jackie Gattoni
6, Allison Malenfant, Michelle Morges
Pleasure Pace Winners: Ideal Time 2 hours, 5 minutes 29 seconds
Juniors:
1, Janelle Parker, Emma Spagnolo
2, Rashi Desai, Sarah Esterly
3, Brian Thompson, Emma Schien, Brooke Wakefrose
4, Brooke Toth, Savannah Toth, Annie Homtz
5, Alexandra Allen, Olivia Allen
6, Chrystal Rielly, Aislinn Howell, Gianna Balut
Adults:
1, Julie Tanis, Adrienne Peck
2, Hannah Kerr, Brianna Bryne
3, Jessica Manna, Helen Mengher
4, Maris Rosenberg, Lori Rocker, Mary O’Mealia
5, Heather Coyne, Lisa Bowman
6, Carol Cenussi, Jodi Kreizer
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 19, 2021
It’s been a banner week for Americans in Aachen, Germany, at a show many consider the most prestigious in the world.
As the action ended today, Brian Moggre of the USA came within a fraction of a second of winning the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen with the fabulous Balou du Reventon during his first trip to the famous showgrounds. The class was taken by Germany’s vastly experienced Daniel Deusser on Killer Queen VDM, fault-free through three rounds and clocked in the jump-off at 41.85 seconds. Brian was second on Ann Thompson’s stallion in 42.16.
It’s hard to believe that just three years ago, Brian was a teenage winner in the junior equitation ranks, victorious in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Medal finals and finishing second in the ASPCA Maclay finals. A year later, he won his first FEI show jumping competition, and now, after turning 20 last month, he has been brilliant on the world stage.
Behind him in third place at Aachen was Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet on Nevados S, the only other triple clear, while the number one horse/rider combo in the world, Olympic individual gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain and Explosion W, finished fourth on four faults. A slightly slower four-faulter, American Laura Kraut, was fifth with Baloutinue.
Laura and Brian were part of the winning NetJets team in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup team on Friday,along with Jessica Springsteen and Lucy Deslauriers. Brian was the only team member to go double-clear in that competition.
“Aachen is something I have dreamed of since I was a little kid, so to be here with a great horse and great teammates could just not be any better,” said Brian, who dotes on the stallion.
“I never have had a horse before that has gone and jumped great things. I only had young horses and my junior jumpers moving up, so it was a lot of pressure to put on myself to step up to the plate, but he’s so reliable and so kind, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I just love him so much,” explained Brian who, like Jessie, has been training with Laura and her partner, British Olympic double gold medalist Nick Skelton.
Brian Moggre and Balou du Reventon at Aachen. (Photo courtesy USEF)
The team total was 4 penalties (a drop score is allowed in each round, unlike the Olympics) to 8 for runner-up Sweden and 12 for third-place France.
Robert Ridland, the USA’s outstanding coach, likes to pair younger riders with more experienced competitors. So he put half of the Tokyo Olympic silver medal team, Jessie Springsteen and Laura Kraut as pathfinder and anchor, with Lucy Deslauriers and Brian. Laura had the drop score of 4 in the first round with Baloutinue, but came back to produce a fault-free trip. Lucy, riding her favorite, Hester, was clear in the first round and collected 4 faults in the second. Jessie, on Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, also was clear in the first round but had the drop score of eight in the second.
Sweden, which won gold in Tokyo, did not use any of its riders from those Games, which speaks to that country’s depth in the sport. The U.S. team was able to avoid a jump-off with Sweden, something that happened in both the 2018 World Equestrian Games, where America triumphed, and the Tokyo Olympics..
Then yesterday, the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team was second, the best finish for a U.S. squad in the history of the event. Will Coleman and Off The Record, Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire, Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, and Tamie Smith with Mai Baum were led by Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander and finished on a final team score of 116.5, edged by only 0.3 penalties as Great Britain took the win with 116.2 penalties. Ireland finished third on 127.2 penalties.
At the same time, Will and his 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding became the first American combination to win the prestigious 4-Star Short at the World Equestrian Festival, finishing on a score of 30.50.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 14, 2021
The 2024 Olympics in Paris will be the last Games for German dressage superstar Isabell Werth, who told the German press agency that it will be a “turning point” for her career and she will retire at some point after that.
Isabell Werth and Bella Rose. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
The 55-year-old multi gold medalist said she could never see herself competing at the age of 60, and hopes to focus on training once she stops showing. Her Tokyo team gold and individual silver mount Bella Rose retired after the Games in Japan, but subsequently under went colic surgery and will miss a planned farewell ceremony in Aachen this week.
No worries, though. Isabell has plenty of horses in the pipeline that will take her through the moment she steps down from the podium for the last time.
by Nancy Jaffer | Sep 8, 2021
Clooney, the magnificent grey ridden by Martin Fuchs of Switzerland. has taken more than one step forward in his recovery and is being hand-walked. Martin’s gold medal mount for the 2019 European Championships slipped in his pasture last month and fractured his humerus on the right side.
He was put in a sling for treatment after the August 16 accident, but two weeks later, he was taking his first steps without the support.
“This horse never stops surprising me with his strength,” said Martin. “Blessed to have him in my life.”
